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An older San Francisco woman has been released from aCaliforniacourtroom after crashing her car into a four-person family and causing their deaths.

Mary Fong Lau, 80, received two years of probation and 200 hours of community service following the tragic accident that resulted in the death of an Apple executive.Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40, his wife Matilde Ramos Pinto, 38, along with their two children, Joaquim, who is 20 months old, and Cauê, who is three months old, in March of 2024.

Judge Bruce Chan, from the city’s Superior Court, stated that Lau’s age, absence of a criminal history, and expressions of regret were all considered in his ruling,The New York Times reported. 

Chan mentioned that the high-profile case involving Lau and her declining health might put her at risk of becoming a target for other prisoners if she is sent to jail.

A family of four had been waiting for a bus to head to the San Francisco Zoo for their wedding anniversary when Lau’s Mercedes struck them at approximately 70mph in a residential area where the speed limit was 40mph.

Oliveira and Pinto’s parents initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against Lau in June 2024, and later filed a separate civil case in May 2025 aimed at invalidating any financial transactions she might have conducted during the legal proceedings.

They have charged Lau with transferring assets to new limited liability companies and selling them to third parties, potentially involving millions of dollars.

She had entered a no-contest plea to four felony charges of vehicular homicide, each carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

As part of her punishment, Lau was also prohibited from driving for a period of three years. Her lawyer, Seth Morris, statedABC7 that she has no intention of driving again.

He said to the media: ‘There are no positive results from such a huge disaster.’

Every person who attended the court experienced the suffering that exists within the community and among these families, and we share in that pain as well. Mrs. Lau is also feeling the anguish of this heartbreaking loss.

She has accepted responsibility by entering a no-contest plea. This avoids the need for the district attorney’s office to conduct a preliminary hearing or proceed with a trial, which could have lasted years and had an uncertain result.

She wishes that by pleading no contest, it might start a journey toward recovery for these families.

The San Francisco Standardreported that Lau informed witnesses present at the location that she was attempting to park when she mistakenly pressed the accelerator.

Nevertheless, Lau informed the police at the hospital that her vehicle experienced a breakdown prior to her crashing into the bus shelter where a family of four was located.

Authorities discovered no issues with Lau’s vehicle, which they stated was moving at a speed of approximately 66 to 75 mph, according to the Standard.

As reported by the New York Times, the meeting on Friday marked the first occasion when Lau spoke to the loved ones of the victims.

She said to them: “I want to apologize to your family.”

Jim Quadra, a lawyer advocating for the victim’s family in the civil lawsuit, stated to ABC: ‘She is not under house arrest – she has no limitations on her freedom.’

She only needs to request approval to possibly travel out of state, as the consequences are minor.

He added, “They required her to complete 200 hours of community service, which amounts to roughly five weeks.”

Five weeks of unspecified community service that could involve anything. We are unaware of the reason – taking four lives.

That’s the situation we’re in, and it’s simply not fair. It isn’t justice and doesn’t offer anything to the family to make them feel they were listened to.

Diego and Joaquin died on the spot, while Matilde and Cauê passed away in the hospital due to their injuries.

Individuals waiting for the bus at the time of the accident also sustained injuries and were provided with medical care.

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